Atypical antipsychotic monitoring in the Kilkenny Mental Health Services

To examine baseline testing and ongoing monitoring of cardiovascular and other risk factors in individuals prescribed atypical antipsychotic medications.

We derived a list of baseline and ongoing monitoring tests from the literature (Weight, BMI, blood pressure, U&E, LFTs, glucose, HbA1C, FBC, TFTs, prolactin, lipids & ECG) and then reviewed a random sample of 80 records of patients prescribed atypical antipsychotics and currently attending an Irish public catchment area service, for evidence of testing.

Levels of testing for baseline tests ranged from 45% for blood pressure to 0% for BMI. Levels of ongoing monitoring tests ranged from 42.5% for U&E to 0% for BMI. Patients admitted to hospital were much more likely to have had testing.

The need for baseline and ongoing monitoring of certain tests in patients prescribed atypical antipsychotics is increasingly accepted. Levels of such testing are currently quite low and need to increase.